In yesterday’s NYT, this report on Mitt Romney in Tampa FL:
“Is there a reason you’re not responding to reporters’ questions?” called out a reporter.
“Yeah, there’s not a press avail today — this is a chance to meet people,” explained Mr. Romney, who has previously made a similar distinction. (There is a time for answering questions, he has said, and a time for talking to voters, and those times do not seem to overlap).
I hadn’t noticed a press avail before, but it seems to have been around for 20 years or so.